Hi,

I am new to the forum - I tried to post a week or so ago but it didn't seem to appear (so apologies if this is a double post).

I have a 1978 XJS and think the head unit is original (a Sanyo radio/cassette player) as it looks the part. My question is - did cars this early have auto-aerials, in which case where does the aerial-out lead (sending a signal to the aerial to send it up) exit from the radio? I have had a look and can't see a terminal anywhere.

Did these cars have an aerial that went up simply with the ignition? Or did they have power aerials at all then?

Thanks for any help or signposting if this has been covered in another thread,

Adrian

 

Hi Adrian

I think your Question has more to do with the 'Head Unit' than the Car, where depending on the model of the Radio/Cassette, it either may or may not have an output to power an electric Aerial

So if it doesn't have that you can always get an electric Aerial and power it from a separate auxiliary switch which should be very simple to rig up, though don't ask me how Lol

 

Adrian,

I've got a 1979 pre-HE with its original head unit which is a Philips Turnolock unit. I can't recall if the aerial is controlled by the ignition or the headunit. IF no-one else gives you the definitive answer, I'll be able to move another car and get to the XJ-S next week and let you know how my car works.

Cheers

Paul

 

Thanks both - I thought it may need a workaround! And Paul, thanks for clarifying that this was not the original head unit - I'd be interested to know if it had this feature.

Adrian

 

Adrian,

I'm not saying it's definitely not the original unit. In those days before Jaguar went to branding their own units, they fitted units from different radio suppliers and often had options within the original build spec. So although I know they used Phillips units, they may also have used other ones. I'll see if I can dig out some period photos that may clarify things.

Paul

 

mine has a clarion radio cassette head unit and a hirshmann electric aerial. cant say for certain but it all looks original. the aerial goes up and down with turning the unit on and off. if the unit is left on it operates from turning ignition on

 

Thanks everybody! Sounds like more than one radio may have been used, and the Clarion unit at least had a aerial raise signal lead.

 

Adrian,

The later cars, such as Leo's with the Clarion mode, and the much later ones with Alpine models definitely had aerials linked to the headunits. I'm just not sure about the early cars. As I said, by next week, I can tell you definitively about my 79 pre-HE.

Cheers

Paul

 

if you have the hirchmann aerial and it goes wrong mechanically its a piece of cake to take to bits and repair as i had to do to mine

 

The XJ6/12 sedans of the period, at least some of them, had a rocker switch on the console to operate the antenna. If you have a mystery switch on your console, it might be for your antenna. It would probably match the appearance of the window switches

Cheers
DD

 

That’s interesting... the ski slope has the 2 window switches; a similar switch on the flat section (passenger side) which I think is central locking as the solenoids click (but the locks don’t work); and between the window switches, a different looking switch (chrome trim) that does... I don’t know what. There is also wiring for another rocker switch which sits loose on the carpet under the driver’s seat and does... I don’t know what.

To complicate things - it is a factory sunroof (and a manual so very rare..),so I don’t know which of the 2 mystery switches is roof and which - possibly - aerial (the roof is disabled and sealed pending finding a pattern part seal that is fit for purpose).

So quite possibly one operated the aerial at some time - I will need to probe the wires to see if the fault is the aerial (which I think is cheap aftermarket) or elsewhere.

Thanks again!

 

PS - the bed unit; no aerial out signal I think.

 

I have now had a rummage.There is a lot of redundant wiring/splicing from previous owners which I am tidying as I go. Someone fitted a rocker switch under the driver’s seat and I am sure this was the workaround to send the aerial up and down.

The Aerial was shot - the nylon cable had fractured into a gazillion pieces - and as it was cheap and nasty anyway, I have replaced with one of the ‘new’ Hirschmann’s.

Whilst in the rear wing cavity I found a large ‘Radiomobile’ assembly, with Lucas relay, and what I thought were the remains of a coaxial cable. On closer inspection it is a (now disconnected) cable drive, presumably driving a worm drive at the base of the aerial at one stage. It looks original equipment, probably left in situ when it broke and someone swapped in an aerial with an integrated motor.

I have removed it but have kept it rather than throw it away, in the Antiques Roadshow frame of mind that it might be significant one day!

I have installed a DAB splitter/amplifier, and a concealed DAB tuner(broadcasting DAB on an FM frequency through the coaxial cable), so hope to get DAB on the period-appropriate head unit. The DAB tuner is clever and only £20. I shall install the infra red receiver, and a neater/smaller aerial switch, in the driver-side ashtray beneath the chrome cover...